"Apocalypse Now"

Analytical Essay # 51434

English > Analysis
English > Comparison
Film > Analysis, Criticism, Etc.

The movie, "Apocalypse Now", is compared and contrasted with the book upon which it is based, "Heart of Darkness", discussing the effects of a "negative" environment on an individual.

3,017 words () | 8 sources | MLA | 2004 | United States

Published on: May 24, 2004

Paper Summary:

The premise of the paper is to prove that the movie, "Apocalypse Now", does a better job of showing the effects of a "negative" environment on an individual than does the book, "Heart of Darkness", by Joseph Conrad. This paper discusses physical locations (Africa vs. Vietnam), events associated with the environment (ivory trading vs. war), effects from such events/environment (PTSD), and the benefit of visual and auditory stimuli. Two characters' changes are witnessed, and evidence of these changes is provided.

From the Paper:

"The viewer learns throughout the movie that Willard has been in this negative environment before, and thus was already affected by it. On more than one occasion he displays a "lack of feeling" that he has obtained from years spent in this environment. One such instance is while they were on the Nung River. During a routine inspection of one of the native's boats, the tension of the situation results in all but one of the natives being killed. While Chief is planning to take the wounded girl to the hospital, Willard walks over to her and shoots her. He then turns to Chief and says, "I told you not to stop" (Apocalypse Now, 1:21:20). Willard displays no hesitation or remorse in this action."